“Take a day to heal from the lies you’ve told yourself and the ones that have been told to you.” -Maya Angelou

Its a (SUPER) Full Moon and eclipse in Libra, in early morning hours of Saturday April 4 EST, so there is a good chance you are feeling the energy already. I like the imagery of a doorway to change in which we have a lot of choices; engage, join, say no, say yes, make effort, or conserve energy. Its up to you. The Full Moon shines light on what needs attention and the eclipse sends its messages of transition or change. And what if the change you needed to make was to simple allow and support yourself being you? No new you, just the real you. Scary? For sure. And how many of us been told, directly and indirectly, the real you should stay in shadow? I am guessing I am not alone in that tribe. So let your authentic self see the light. The world needs more real. Its need more you.

“Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds. Shine.”

-Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

If any energy can help us do the work, its Virgo energy. Maybe your work is embracing quiet. Maybe its coming out from behind the clouds. Its definitely all our work to shine. Notice what the Full Moon shines it light on today and move towards it. Happy moon day!

Welcome first FULL MOON of 2015! Full moons shine their bright light on those inner places that need to be seen. If emotions and energies are arising that feel uncomfortable or provoking, embrace them - they are rising to the surface for a reason. If you find yourself in an emotional cycle of ups and downs, Full Moons are an opportunity to meet what arises head on. Leo energy can often reside in the realm of the spectacular or immense, so it is good to offer a counter balance that reminds us that while a catalyst may hit us head on (with the intensity we need to listen up) indeed change happens one moment at a time, day after day. One person. One gesture. And that is spectacular as well.

"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization."-Harriet Beecher Stowe

With the New Moon in Virgo, I feel the energy is pointing to the details in life. The everyday living that we often call minutia and indeed that can often be insipid. But when we are nourished and generous, perhaps we can come to see these small little moments as opportunities.

Opportunities for growth, or to learn something about ourselves and how we move in the world or perhaps just opportunities to show up at our best. And often it is in these small moments - parking our car, doing the dishes, toasting the bread - that our patience and connection to a sacred part of ourselves is lost. Meeting ourselves where we are is a theme of late, and one that applies here I think. Often where we are is in the details of life. So enjoy them when you can, pause and savor a few today and toast your toast heroically whenever possible.

Take steps to greet the wild Self: Find the doors. Open them. And walk boldlythrough...

“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but
precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old
story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost
cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a
sane life, that is a door.” — Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Summer is winding down here in New England. The sun stills warms, the nights are still chirping with summer sounds, but the energy of it all is winding down. Its a slow, drawn out end, with plenty of time for savoring, but its a shift all the same.

Energies shifting. Energies changing. A time of new rhythms, new routines. Transitions can be hard. Especially when our hearts feel heavy. When we feel laden down with feelings - feelings of fear, loss, anger, procrastination, and guilt - it is hard to move with ease. Its the heaviness of our feelings that weigh us down. How can we lighten the load?

Its helpful to think of where are feeling come from. What feeds our feelings? Thoughts. Our mind thinks thoughts and our feelings are what emerges from these thought patterns. If our feelings are cake, then our thoughts are the ingredients. What kind of cake can you make from self defeating and negative ingredients? Not a very tasty one. And certainly not one you can eat everyday in a sustainable way.

The idea that our thought patterns give rise to our feelings is not a new concept, with many ancient traditions and practices recognizing the incredible power of the mind to influence our feelings and energies. This is why meditation practices are so incredible powerful - that constant buzz of thoughts are paused so that you are able to feel what its like to be without thoughts. Most people describe this as pure bliss!

I certainly have felt the bliss of those pauses, however in my own busy life, pauses are as sacred as they are rare. If pauses are rare and its not as simple as just deciding to stop your negative thought patterns, how can we lighten the load and free our heart space up?

Research constantly emerges that shows that when our brains think the same thought patterns over and over, positive or negative, these thought patterns are then continually strengthened. This suggests that if we continually practice nourishing, positive thoughts, these patterns will get stronger and stronger. Do you have to feel your positive thoughts are true? Not necessarily. If thoughts give rise to feelings, then practicing positive thoughts will create positive feelings.

Well, great, you might be thinking. Basically I need to "think positive"?

Ah, its not that simple. We need to PRACTICE POSITIVE.

Just like practicing for a sport, in order to be skilled in that sport. What is practice?

Practice is intentional. You make time for it. You consciously decide to do it. And then you practice it, even if it feels a little clunky. Even if it feels like an odd fit.

But you practice, over and over (and luckily, practicing positive thinking feels pretty good!) and eventually you get better and better at it.

I've been trying this out at night, right before bed. I just lay quietly and decide I am going to think positive thoughts - about myself, about my family, about my life. Its enjoyable and powerful.

The New Moon is today and there is that wonderful cosmic energy that supports letting go of the old and trying out the new. New ingredients that makes for a better cake.

The Full Moon is here, tomorrow August 20th in Aquarius and this may sound a little odd, but before I knew what sign this month's Full Moon would be in, I thought to myself "I hope its in Aquarius". That's because I could use some big, out-of-the-box, dream world visualization to help me show up at my best right now. Sometimes the best way to connect with our soul work is to get out of our small minds and into the bigger unviersal mind. Aquarius energy is a great support for going further afield into new and interesting realms of possibility.

I have a great Full Moon exercise that I want to share that can help you connect with opportunities and possibilities you may have thought impossible. Its called "I Would Never" and when it was taught to me, I was so excited at how such a simple question could open us up to new possibilitues while at the same time affirming the ways in which you already on the right path.

The exercise is simple, in fact, its better to think of it as a writing meditation, so find a few minutes of quiet time to be alone. Grab your journal or a piece of paper. Then guide yourself through this simple prompt:

Thinking about your life as it is now, think about things you would NEVER DO. Write them down, starting with the words "I WOULD NEVER..."

Don't edit your list and make it truthful. Think about things you would never, ever do. Much of what you write down will be affirming, meaning, you will say to yourself "That's right, I would never do that." For example, one thing on my list is "I would never leave my husband and baby daughter and run off." And that is 100% true. I would never to do. I love them dearly and am dedicated to my family. Its affirming to connect with that and feel that in my heart.

You may have nothing but affirming items. And yet! You may realize there is something on that list you were telling yourself you would never do that is in the realm of possibility and desire. Perhaps you write down "I would never quit my job" or "I would never go back to school." At first, it may feel those statements are unequivocally true. But as you connect with them, you might start to question this truth. You may ask yourself why would I never do that? Perhaps, no matter how small, something you would never do, is actually possible. It might not go onto to your "to-do" list, but it comes off the "never" list and starts to rest in the realm of possibility, which is the first step in manifesting your soul work in this world.

Granted, this is a messy exercise that may leave you with more questions than answers, but soul work isn't always easy or clean or linear. And the Full Moon in Aquarius is a perfect time to ask the big questions and get unexpected answers. In fact, sometimes the answers aren't as important as being brave enough to ask the question in the first place.

With today's New Moon (and the Sun too!) in the sign Cancer,
the hot summer energy is swirling around our relationship to family, home and
nurturing. The New Moon supports releasing old familial patterns that are
harmful and making room for new, expansive and personal definitions of family
and home. Ah family. These relationships occupy some of the most vulnerable
spaces in our hearts. Some respond to the challenges by hardening those spots,
often understandably in order to survive and keep on. But surviving is not
enough for the soul, and when safety can be found, it is time to go deep into
those spaces and open them wide. Healing is not only the absence of pain, it is
also the presence of love.

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe,
call it a family. Whatever you call it,
whoever you are, you need one."
-Jane Howard

In Celtic and Roman cultures, February was a time of
purification, initiation and cleansing. This is also a good time to rededicate
yourself to your chosen sacred and spiritual path. Purification and cleansing
can support your dedication, perhaps through cleaning your house or sacred
altar space and smudging your home. Emotionally cleanse by accepting
responsibility for past mistakes, forgiving yourself and moving forward with
future plans for living your life soulfully. Rededicate yourself not through
brute force, but through a conversation with the heart. Rededicate yourself to
your soul purpose.

Herbs for this month are cedar, myrrh and sage - all great
for smudging. Sacred stones: Amethyst, Jasper.

3. Its promotes a sense of balance - most of us follow the sun closely, even if we do not realize it. We are happy on days when the sun shines bright and look forward to its warmth and energy. The moon provides a sense of balance to this energy - it reflects your internal world; the subconscious, your inner desires and deepest dreams. This internal world deserves to be seen and heard.

4. Its a natural rhythm - many people feel a deep sense of connection with the moon and can intuitively feel our ancient connection to this natural "calendar".

5. Women especially, have a special connection to the moon - some finding that their menstrual cycle, or "moon cycle" is in tune with the moon. Some women find that they bleed with the Full Moon, others, with the New Moon.

6. The moon changes astrological signs about every 2 1/2 days or so, adding a deeper level to the astrological guidance of our sun signs.

7. New Moon energy provides the opportunity to release and let go. Tuning into this energy allows us to clear the slate, making room for the sacred work we hope to do in the world

8. Full Moon energy often shines a light on areas of our selves or lives that need examination, sometimes going deep into our subconscious to call forth our most authentic selves.

9. Simple, everyday ritual - following the moon cycles provides the opportunity for simple rituals, such as journaling at the Full Moon, lighting a candle to release negative energy, or coming together with others for a New Moon intention setting circle - helping us invite the sacred into our lives.

10. “When hope is fleeting, stop for a moment and visualize, in a sky of silver, the crescent of a lavender moon. Imagine it -- delicate, slim, precise, like a paper-thin slice from a cabochon jewel. It may not be very useful, but it is beautiful. And sometimes it is enough.” -Vera Nazarian